Army Chief lifts ban on Lt. Gen. Suhag

The new Army Chief, General Bikram Singh, has lifted the discipline and vigilance (DV) ban imposed on Lt. General Dalbir Singh Suhag, paving the way for his promotion and appointment as Eastern Army Commander.

Lt. Gen. Suhag, 3 Corps Commander, was slapped the DV ban and served a show-cause by the then Army Chief, General V.K. Singh, in the last week of May. General Bikram Singh reversed the decision of his predecessor within a week of his taking over as the Army Chief. Lt. Gen. Suhag is in line to head the Army in 2014 after the retirement of General Bikram Singh.

He was placed under DV ban on charges of “abdicating responsibility” in handling an intelligence and surveillance unit in Assam which was under his command for what was dubbed as a “botched-up intelligence operation.”

The new Army Chief took the decision after following due process, informed sources in the Army said here on Thursday.

The 3 Corps Commander is now eligible for promotion and the post of Eastern Commander had fallen vacant after Gen. Bikram Singh took over as Army Chief on June 1.

Lt. Gen. Suhag's promotion was under consideration by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. He was issued a show-cause on May 19 and he sent in his reply on May 31, the day when General V.K. Singh retired.

Soon after taking over as Army Chief, General Bikram Singh made it clear that nothing would be brushed under the carpet and all issues affecting the top echelons would be settled, indicating that the days of factional fights and fissures in the Army would be over soon.

Would anyone join me in betting 30 pieces of silver that this CAOS' next action will be to declare Tejinder Singh a honest man and declare the Tatra trucks manufactured by BEML were world class?

from:
Aritra Gupta

Posted on: Jun 9, 2012 at 01:23 IST

This is the worst decision that could have been made by the new Chief.
He should have respected the decision of his previous Boss. In anycase it should not have been so early as if the country's security is at risk. If it is a politically influenced decision is all the more worse. It is sad that politics has entered our armed forces too. Is there any place which the Congress has left untouched be it the abuse of Constitutional safeguards ( remember Emergency?, the CVC, the E.C. Governors, even the President, Judiciary and now the Army. It is a shame but more than that the bad precedence they leave behind is alarming. May God save the country.

from:
PRadhakrishnan

Posted on: Jun 9, 2012 at 01:18 IST

I think when Bikram Singh said that nothing would be swept under the carpet after taking office, he was trying to provide some cover for himself before he could 'clear' Dalbir Singh. It shows how difficult it is to eradicate corruption at the highest places -- the impunity with which Dalbir Singh acted asks for a high level inquiry either by the Govt or by the Courts. Now that it is evident that Bikram Singh is favoured to Dalbir Singh, even the allegations against Dalbir Singh must be probed transparently by an independent authority under tight scrutiny.

from:
Yashwanth P

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 20:49 IST

This is really wonderful that the present army Chief reversed the decision of the former Chief within 24 hrs. As a retired officer from the Govt. service ,it is really not acceptable to make decision in so haste. This will start a new precedence with a future bad affect.

from:
chaitanya Agarwal

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 18:48 IST

It rather sad to see a man of General Bikram Singh's stature to fall prey to corruption. This will mire the spotless image of the Indian Army completely.I hope Gen B Singh shows same integrity and grit as Gen VK Singh and maintain Gen VK Singh's legacy of cleaning the Army.

from:
Vinay Bapna

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 15:46 IST

All this drama of competitive comments must stop. The COAS has done the right thing to follow the due process and lift the DV ban on such a senior officer.

from:
madhu

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 14:01 IST

There should be an inquiry before lifting the ban........it smells rat

from:
Navin Singh

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 13:49 IST

While someone made a valid point of not blaming current Chief without proofs, I think it is not very hard to see that decision was made in such a haste and is equally hard to believe that this haste was for anything but to show his predecessor down. Not a good example at all.

from:
Shashank

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 13:17 IST

This indeed is a very hasty decision, which shows more than what meets the eye.

from:
Raj Behl

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 13:17 IST

I had sincerely hoped that he will take the course of former General V.K. Singh, and up it by a few notches. But this decision is not on the side of truth. This decision basically means that he is overturning the decision of former General V.K. Singh. Very sad, but i will wait for the current General's tenure to unfold further, and see how his action speaks. But on this one, he is not on the side of truth.

from:
Sunit Jang Bahadur

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 13:02 IST

The new Army Chief promised that nothing would be swept under the mcarpet. Will he be true to his promise and make the findings public based on which he overthrew his predecessors's judgement?
How was it that he arrived at this controversial conclusion in such a record time? Why was it done at such haste? Did he get the consent of the Defence Minister? Or, is it all because some powers-be at the Ministry forced /encouraged him to do it in such a hurry? Concerned citizens should demand their MPs to do the needful to get the truth out. They should demand that the Defence Minister should make a detailed statement in the Parliament.

from:
Kris Murthy

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 12:55 IST

How can he reverse the order without even investigation Bikram Singh?

from:
Mahendra

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 12:37 IST

How our country Nation is Run? This is a matter of National Debate and also an electoral issue. Caste, creed, community, money , muscle power etc are used by us for vested interest with hardly any concern for unity of the Nation.
It's a new challenge that our Nation is facing today and hopefully the new generation will take up the gauntlet to change the present system.Is General Bikram Singh or Gen V K Singh to be blamed, no the system is being manipulated to suit the interest. In the name of Civil supremacy over the & Military, which was never question even thought of is being raised today to dismember the strong military commitment in protecting the Indian Constitution. A schism is being developed to weaken the only institution of India which guarantees the freedom of the Nation.Do we want an sectarian armed force, divided and not reliable to protect the democratic value.Unlike other countries where the mass constitutes of one religion, our nation may loose its identity.

from:
Jayant

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 12:24 IST

Shame on you Sardar Bikram Singh !!! From the very first day you proved that you are also CORRUPT like Congress Govt. At least do the investigation and then lift the ban.

from:
Partha

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 12:14 IST

it was expected from the current chief to follow the diktat of his political boss. "Mera Bharat Mahan", these politician has not only divided the people of country but now they succeeded in dividing the Army also. God Save Our Country since we are busy in saving our day to day life.

from:
amit surana

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 12:03 IST

The article gives neither the motives nor the rationale behind the decision. And yet all our arm chair experts provide comments on how this decision was based on ethnic group...

from:
pas

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 11:52 IST

Sardar Bikram Singh being controlled by ????? The way appointment of Bikram Singh was cleared and now the way Bikram Singh has cleared Dalbir Singh Suhag shows that there are some very powerful forces at play especially considering that in the next few years, Indian Army would be importing huge quantities of arms and ammunition. This could be the mother of all scams!!!!!!!

from:
subhash

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 11:18 IST

The person who has been accused of Abdicating responsibility is in the
race of heading the Indian Army in 2014. How insensitive. Investigations should be done at least in such sensitive matters. Else we will be throwing our country to some bone hungry dogs in near future.

from:
Nagaraj

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 11:10 IST

What does it all mean? Reward and punishment in the organization is NOT based on the fundamental principles of justice and equity but on the whims and fancies of your current superior by a combination of unpredictable and totally random circumstances! ( and NOT based on organizational procedural justice and fairness) Organizations may choose to cultivate a culture of fairness and influence members perception of a quality relationship between organizational justice and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) . The results of a study suggest that organizations need to pay more attention to programs and policies that encourage fairness if OCB is the priority of management.Specifically, organizations need to focus on overall justice to enhance OCB. Yilmaz and Tasdan (2009) study suggest that a positive organizational justice perception may increase a positive citizenship perception.

from:
Chandra Nath

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 10:57 IST

Laws control the lesser man.Right conduct controls the greater one.we have great regards for Indian army please in future don't take such a big decisions in hurry (ex-army chief v.k. Singh must have some proof/logic behind his action)

from:
rakesh yadav

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 10:40 IST

New controversy. This is an another example of corruption. Nothing but corruption. Corrupt will assist and give chance to grew up corruption. Corrupt will nurture corruption. India will present the very bad example of Democracy to the world. The alliance of corrupt politician and the military will do anything, anywhere, and anytime. If honest blows the whistle against corrupt then he would be crushed till demolition. I would like to address the young people of India.... let open our eyes, take a deep breath, collect our power and jump in society to save our future, to save our dignity, and to make great Bharat.
May God bless this hapless poor Country! Jai ho!

from:
Pankaj Dwivedi

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 10:19 IST

I see so many comments against the current Army Chief here. How can we assume he is wrong and that the previous Chief was right? Do we know all the facts? Maybe it was Gen. VK Singh who was acting out of spite and malice. Maybe Gen. Bikram Singh is right? What right do we have to judge - this is an Army matter and they have investigated and decided. So be it. Who is to say Gen VK Singh is morally more right than Gen. Bikram Singh. After all Gen VK SIngh fudged his birthdate then tried to defend it and made a big fuss when the fudged date stopped suiting him.

from:
Rajeev

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 10:10 IST

Hence starts the process of 'return to pre-V.K.Singh days' where the corrupt broke all the rules and still managed to get scot-free. Now it will be business-as-usual. Incumbent chief could have tried for a better start to his tenure.

from:
sanjay

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 09:45 IST

General Bikram Singh's seemingly slaphappy decision to lift the DV ban on Lt. Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag has apparently been dictated by the Defence Ministry. After a few days in official disgrace Suhag has been rehabilitated. One hopes the decision is based on due diligence and proper application of mind. Be that as it may, Bikram Singh's action does give the impression that it is deliberate and meant to be a a real slap in the face for his predecessor whose order put Suhag in the dog house.

from:
Ennar

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 09:35 IST

Indian Armed Forces are under sorry state of affairs and it is pathetic. How in the world new leadership had a chance to review all the necessary information and reverse previous determination within a week?? Issue is not whether this is right decision or wrong. One or the other side had deliberately made wrong decision.....This will affect trust in armed forces..

from:
Bhupendra

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 06:32 IST

Army Chief Gen. Bikram Singh's decision to lift ban on promotion of Lt. Gen Dalbir Singh Suhag, may turnout to be a major controversial decision. With the change in the guard of the army chief, a major disciplinary action taken against a top officer cannot be reversed so swiftly and post him to a very highly responsible position. I am not aware of the rules in the army, but, a procedure should have been followed before such a major decision is taken.There should have been a provision for an appeal and the decision can be taken at higher level, may be court of appeal of the army or the government, may be the Defense Minister or Defense Secretary. Chief of Army Staff should spell out the reasons for his action, lest the issue may snowball into a major controversy. Government also has to come out with a statement on the subject.

from:
K V Laxmi Prasad

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 03:37 IST

Now politics infiltrates the Army!! It is really bad to revert any decision by the predecessor no matter how unjust it is. The responsible persons at top should learn to live with the past and look for the future.

from:
Krishna Shetty

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 02:32 IST

Abdicating responsibility is pretty serious charge on person leading a command. But now He is cleared of it ? I think Army Chief needs to explain this to DoD/MoD and inturn to the Parliament. We as the citizens need to know what Lt. Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag did (pending the CBI probe of corruption and also worked for RAW) and is he guilty ? ..and it needs to be done fast.

from:
vignesh

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 02:21 IST

Since the report does not include the rationale for overturning the decision by the previous army chief who retired a mere one week ago, it raises a very serious question:
Are military decisions too based on pure expediency, clan loyalties and/or animosities?
How can two successive COAS arrive at two opposite decisons?
The charge of “abdicating responsibility” in handling an intelligence and surveillance unit against Lt. Gen. Dalbir Singh Suhag was extremely serious - as serious as it can get.
The military/MOD needs to show that the decision of the former COAS V.K. Singh was totally erroneous. They need to show that they have completed a full, credible investigation within a week to arive at their decision - which should be visibly good.
If not, then it only adds more credibility to the former COAS V. K. SIngh's claims and efforts.

from:
Dr. Ajay

Posted on: Jun 8, 2012 at 00:59 IST

This indicates how much favouritism over ethic or accountability in armed forces.

Gen VK Singh undoubtedly a hero when he exposed corruption in armed forces and buying equipments to the armed forces.

Well done Gen V K Singh!

from:
Shiva

Posted on: Jun 7, 2012 at 23:24 IST

A sad day in the history of the Army and the country. It was always suspected by many that the Army had been destroyed beyond repair by Gen JJ Singh and his Operation Moses to ensure that a succession of army chiefs all hail from a particular community. By revoking the ban on Suhag within days and without even a token investigation, our worst fears have come true. The Army has also fallen a prey to communalism and nepotism like all other institutions in the country. Shame on Bikram Singh. He has already proved incapable of filling the shoes of VK Singh who at least tried his best to cleanse the army.

from:
Viswanath

Posted on: Jun 7, 2012 at 22:27 IST

This was bound to happen. The integrity of the people at such position should be impeccable.God save India.

from:
Vikram

Posted on: Jun 7, 2012 at 22:15 IST

Why done without any investigation report it self prove there is something wrong